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Ahok's assistant to resign to challenge him in Jakarta election
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The Jakarta governor's assistant for culture and tourism, Sylviana Murni (center), speaks at an event in Jakarta on Sept. 13. Sylviana will resign from her post to challenge her boss, Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama, in the 2017 Jakarta gubernatorial election, teaming up with the son of former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. (Antara/Wahyu Putro A.)
T
he Jakarta governor's assistant for culture and tourism, Sylviana Murni, is set to resign on Friday to challenge her boss in Jakarta’s 2017 gubernatorial election, running as a deputy governor candidate alongside the son of former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
"I have made my resignation letter and hope to meet Ahok [Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama] today," she told the Jakarta Post.
Sylviana was named as the running mate of Maj. Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono after hours of meeting by four parties, namely the Democratic Party, the National Mandate Party (PAN), the United Development Party (PPP) and the National Awakening Party (PKB), in the early hours of Friday at Yudhoyono's residence in Cikeas, West Java.
Agus, 38, would resign from his position in the Army to run for governor, Democratic Party secretary general Hinca Panjaitan said.
Agus and Sylviana plan to undergo a medical check-up at the Mintohardjo Navy General Hospital in Bendungan Hilir, Central Jakarta, on Friday afternoon and to register themselves with the Jakarta General Election Commission (KPU) at 7 p.m.
The four parties were previously part of the so-called Kinship Coalition, along with the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), Gerindra and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS). PDI-P decided to join with Golkar, NasDem and Hanura in throwing their support behind incumbent Governor Ahok and Deputy Governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat. Meanwhile, Gerindra and the PKS were reported to endorse Sandiaga Uno for the election but have yet to announce his running mate. (rin)
